Danita Minnis

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Celeste will be awarding a $25.00 GC to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

Author Interview

1. Woohoo! You are a published author. Describe a strong character trait you possess, good or bad, and how it helped you become a published author.

First of all, thanks for hosting me today, and a big hello to the readers!

One word. TENACITY. That has to be my strongest trait. It rode with me when I was in boot camp becoming one of the few and the proud—a Marine, when I was working fulltime and getting my degree, and when someone told me that I wouldn’t be able to ride my Harley all the way from Texas to Little Sturgis, Kentucky and back…they were wrong…and it was a Sportster, too. So take that!

I don’t give up. That’s what it takes to get published. I was turned down twice (which I still think is awesome that it was only 2), but kept at it until the right publisher saw promise in what I had to offer. If you get rejected, hone your skill. Before I even attempted to submit the first time, I researched the erotic romance world for two years to understand the draw for a reader. I wanted to give them something they haven’t seen before, and with each story I don’t give up until I give them something better than the last.

2. Sometimes an author begins writing a story before they are aware of its genre. Did you choose your genre, or did it choose you?

It definitely chose me. I literally dreamed of my cast of characters before I put pen to paper. These gorgeous men were forming out of mist and they definitely had the drool factor going on. Their names came to me in that dream as well. Drusus Tarquinius, Severus Faal, Cato Telarius, Lucien Tarquinius, Caelius Meron, and Maxim Telarius were the first. I did research on the internet just from their names and realized it was ancient Latin. Science fiction was the only way to go after that. The story just unfolded once I discovered that there really was a Roman emperor named Lucius Tarquinius. Sort of freaked me out.

3. The plot thickens, or does it? Which one are you, a pantser or a plotter? A little of both, really. I start out as the plotter. I give myself a generic outline from top to bottom. It’s a freeform style outline, if that makes any sense. It has no hard barriers that I can’t cross. I’m not their puppet master.

I know the basic path my character is going to take, but I become the pantser as soon as I start writing the first line of dialog. Sometimes the story takes me off into a total different direction, but somehow it always deviates back to one of the major points I did in the outline and it keeps on track.

Sometimes I actually feel like I’m just a third party sitting off to the side and just retelling these guy’s stories. When I try to force a situation, it never works out and I have to back up and wait for the muse to set me straight. I get surprised many times on what happens.

4. Fear 101: As writers it is our duty to make our characters face their fears. Have you ever included one of your own fears in a storyline?

The closest I came to that was in Severus’s story (Book 2). Cassie, the heroine, has this totally tough outer shell and hides her vulnerability behind sarcasm and distrust. The last thing she would ever want to happen is to be out of control, physically or emotionally. She was in a really hairy situation at her office where she lost complete control of everything and had to depend on Severus to get her through it. It was a tipping point in their relationship, but scary as hell.

That’s one of my biggest fears. I shiver at the thought of having my personal control completely stripped from me and I’m left helpless and crying. I think it’s more of a pride thing, especially after having served in the Marines. I hate the saying, “You’re such a girl.” Just makes me want to smack something.

5. Fear 102: Yes, deadlines are terrifying. Have you conquered the juggling act between writing and the rest of your life? What do you do when it feels like the balls are dropping all around you?

You’re not going to believe me on this one, but it’s true. I thrive on that stuff. In my day job alter ego, I’m a Project Manager. I keep all the marbles from rolling off the table. I have this knack for immediately determining priorities. You can’t always have fifteen number one priorities. I try to get the harder things out of the way and then work my way down the easy list. If I have too many hard things to do, I compromise with the one making the demands. Either they’ll get it quick with poor quality, or a little later with some fantastic results, their choice.

Sometimes things are just impossible to complete in a timeline that someone wants it done. I don’t lose a bit of sleep over it. I give it my best shot and if I get an 80/20 split in my favor, I consider it a victory. I don’t like drama and I refuse to get stressed. Life’s too short.

6. Switch positions with one of your main characters in a scene. What is the outcome, disaster or divine intervention?

Geez, this is a hard one. Uh, let’s see. I’ll have to go back to the incident with Cassie in Book 2 and it would definitely be divine intervention because I would’ve let the nosy secretary open the damn box. <big grin>

7. Where is your favorite place to write? Add that one comfort food that you can’t do without.

My first book was written sitting at my desk in my bedroom. Drove me absolutely nuts. I’m already in a cubicle all day, so it started feeling like a job…and then came the laptop. Thank goodness someone invented those. I have a cushy lap desk now that has a fan attachment and an extension for the mouse. Best invention ever. I prop a butt load of pillows on the bed, recline back and let loose on the stories. Love it!

No comfort food, just decaf coffee. I know, why bother, right? But seriously, you don’t ever want to see me on caffeine. I’ll give the Tasmanian devil a run for his money. It’s not pretty.

8. Writing inspirations?

I get inspired to continue writing every time I get a note from a fan that is totally in love with the Insedi warriors or begging me to hurry up with the next book. I’ve even had a professional reviewer say that I’ve “ruined her from the common man.” Now THAT is inspiratioin. I also get inspired whenever I finish a book. Even though I write them, I’m always dying to find out what’s going to happen next.

9. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?

J.R. Ward. Love the camaraderie with the Brotherhood. My guys aren’t vampires but they got that good stuff going on like the brothers.

My one question would be, “Are you ever going to let Xcor get his lip fixed?”
10. I’ve gone mad – why don’t you come with me? Some people just don’t understand us writers. Name a quirky, writer-thing you do that friends wish you didn’t.

I get a glazed look in my eye and go “uh, huh” a lot when they try to talk to me while I’m writing. You’d think they’d learn.

 

Fueled by Lust: Caelius

by Celeste Prater

Blurb:

Caelius Meron strips at Heat Seekers Male Revue just so he can find his mate. So imagine his shock when he finds her in a cooking class he was forced to attend. So what’s the problem? There’s twenty-two of them according to Rhia Brennan. Undaunted by her claim that he’s too young, Caelius battles every roadblock she places. But what if one may be too difficult to ignore?

Kallon Aceso knows exactly who should own his heart, but Ulixes Dionysus doesn’t appear to want it. But is it really something else buried so deep that it may keep them apart forever?

Travel with these two Insedi as they both chase their hearts desire, only to be thwarted by misconceptions and mistakes from the past. Can they scale these insurmountable walls, or will they have to walk away and forever mourn what they could never have?

Book 5 in the Fueled By Lust Series brings back the sexy males that make your legs tremble just by saying your name.

 

Excerpt:

Lowering his voice, Caelius leaned in even closer. He feared he may have disappointed her, and he didn’t want to miss any part of her expression.

“Does what I do each night bother you?”

She looked up and blinked a few times before she spoke. Her voice came low and husky, and his skin pebbled.

“No. Not in the least. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” He watched her throat work on a hard swallow before she continued.

“Your body was gleaming and showed off every single muscle as you swung that sword. It was the first time I’d seen your hair down, too. It’s…it’s beautiful. After you won, you worked your way down the row of women and paid each one of them close attention. I’m sure they felt like they were the only person in the room when you looked at them. With every song, your body swayed perfectly to the music, and it mesmerized me. I…uh…yeah…it was great.”

Caelius was having a hard time focusing on her answer. Her jasmine-scented desire had resurfaced and was wreaking havoc on his concentration, not to mention his cock. It was at full length and pushing insistently against his jeans. He said the first thing that came to mind. Something he wanted very badly.

“I want to kiss you, Rhia.” He wasn’t expecting her to recoil as if he was a hissing viper. Her laughter was shaky and broken.

“Good grief, Caelius. Why on Earth would you want to kiss me?”

 

Author Bio and Links:

I was born and raised in a small town between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. Wanting to see more than my small Texas town, I joined the Marines, which satisfied my craving to see more of the U.S. and my drive to see if I could be one of the few and the proud.

A firm believer in educating the mind, I have achieved several advanced degrees, the latest being a master’s of science.

My true love is writing erotic romance, especially about alien hunks that know how to treat their females.

Drusus, Severus, Cato, Lucien, Caelius, Maxim and many more have swirled in my dreams until I had to bring them to life and allow them to find love within the pages of the Fueled by Lust book series.

 

Book 1 DRUSUS was nominated as Top 5 Finalist and placed 3rd in the 2014 RWA Passionate Ink’s 9th Annual Passionate Plume Book Contest in Erotic SciFi/Fantasy Category, Book 2 SEVERUS achieved BEST BOOK review rating and won April 2014 BOOK OF THE MONTH Reader Poll at LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS, Book 3 CATO won the May/June 2014 BOOK OF THE MONTH Reader Poll at LONG AND SHORT REVIEWS. All currently released books in the series have resided made it into the Top 5 Bestseller Lists at Bookstrand.com within days of release as well as making it into the Top 10 Hottest New Releases in Erotic Science Fiction on Amazon.

 

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